Kansas City magazine August 2024

Plus: Dark Humor

kansascitymag.com | August 2024 | $4.95

KC crime podcasters | Flower Power New Belton arboretum

CELEBRATING THE 313 WINNERS THAT MAKE KANSAS CITY GREAT!

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913.800.1812 MALFERKC.COM Malfer & Associates is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass Realty Group, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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GET WELL KC! LOVE MARIA.

OUR MISSION

We love Kansas City like family. We know what makes it great, we know how it struggles, and we know its secrets.

Through great storytelling, photography and design, we help our readers celebrate our city’s triumphs, tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique.

PUBLISHER

Dave Claflin MANAGING EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch

Thank You for Voting Us the Best in 2024!

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Kevin Goodbar ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Higgins FOOD EDITOR

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Nina Cherry DIRECTOR OF SALES

Angie Henshaw DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

James Lampone

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Kansas City magazine is published monthly by KC Publishing, LLC. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Kansas City magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Kansas City magazine adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which requires a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages.

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Kansas City August 2024

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features

A U G U S T 2 02 4

52 Cover Story Best of Kansas City

42

Weston Whimsy

Take a peek at a JoCo restaurateur’s getaway home

12

Kansas City August 2024

90

Setting the Bar High Bar Medici: Is it a bar?

Is it a restaurant? It’s both.

See the 313 winners chosen by our readers and editors

104 Paseo Manor

A family mansion from the past now serves the community

The Missouri State Penitentiary is a beloved treasure to history buffs and thrill-seekers alike. Tour and learn of the penitentiary’s 168-year operation and infamous criminals who were housed inside “The Walls.”

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august

IN THIS ISSUE

21 loop

29 beat

37 current

89 savor

21 Nature’s Remedy

29 Flower Festival

37 Party Platters

89 Prized Pies

A longtime Belton resident and retired pharmacist donates land for an arboretum

An acre of sunflowers is ready for you to explore

Two KC-based artists are creating colorful dinnerware

There’s still time to try Mo Pie’s seasonal fruit creations

26 A Cure for the Cut

32 Storyteller

38 Screen Time

90 Raising the Bar

KC author Candice Millard writes about history

Check out KC’s first (and only) digital art gallery

KC’s most recent high-end restaurant has an extensive cocktail menu

34 Backbeat

40 Dark Humor

Check out the places honoring KC’s Charlie “Bird” Parker this month

Two KC podcasters have a quirky take on true crime

An urban park is set to cover the “Kansas City Cut”

42 Weston Weekend See this JoCo restaurateur’s retreat IN EVERY ISSUE

Editor’s Letter................ 16 Up Front........................... 18 Calendar......................... 30 Surreal Estate............. 104

94 High Spirit KC is home to the first Midwestern soju distillery

96 Perfect Day Max Kaniger is bringing fresh produce to KC’s food deserts

98 ’Cue Card Meet Kansas’ state BBQ champs

102 Newsfeed The latest in KC food news

ON THE COVER:

Trophy illustration by Mark Ross

14

Kansas City August 2024

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F R O M T H E E D I TO R

Kansas City’s Best ON ONE RECENT mildly warm summer afternoon, I found myself eating jalapeno crab cakes and sipping an ice-cold margarita while sitting on a lovely outdoor patio and chatting up a dear friend. That’s why this issue, the Best of Kansas City issue, is one of my favorites. It inspires me to try new things.

I was at Brookside Barrio, which our readers just voted the Best Outdoor Patio in Kansas City. There’s not much that beats eating Mexican food outdoors, so when I discovered that Brookside Barrio received the most votes, I knew I had to give it a try. I was not disappointed.

That’s why this issue, the Best of Kansas City issue, is one of my favorites: it inspires me to try new things. Wandering around Brookside is always fun, meeting friends is always fun, and well, crab cakes are my favorite. But discovering a new place to eat or buy a bouquet of flowers is why I enjoy looking over our annual Best of KC list. Our readers know what they are talking about—a fact we’re reminded of each year when their votes are tabulated for the Best of Kansas City project.

We’re always on the lookout for the best KC has to offer, and that’s why we ask our readers everything from where to find the best bowl of ramen to who’s the best bartender in town. I’m always impressed with the list. There are just so many amazing businesses, people and places that make this city a wonderful place to live.

We are, however, a naturally curious and opinionated bunch, so we also picked a few of our own KC favorites, such as the best place to simultaneously practice yoga and commune with goats and where to find the best hamburger at 3 am.

Along with our BoKC feature, our food editor, Tyler Shane, reviewed the new-ish Bar Medici, an upscale bar and restaurant, and our associate managing editor, Molly Higgins, interviewed the owner of the city’s first gallery specializing in digital art. Both are further examples of what makes the metro an always interesting and evolving place to live.

I can’t wait to hear if you discovered a new place to try after perusing this year’s BoKC list.

Dawnya Bartsch MANAGING EDITOR

dawnya@kansascitymag.com

Contributors

16

Katie Currid, Photographer & Writer

Jeremey Theron Kirby, Photographer

Daniela Barzallo, Editorial Intern

Katie Currid, a photojournalist who lives in Weston, wrote and photographed this issue’s home feature. She also owns a cute little prosecco truck, Fizzolino.

Her Italian tap truck is a mobile bartending service.

Longtime Kansas City magazine photographer Jeremey Theron Kirby can often be found photographing people, places and things for us. This issue, he photographed an ancient mansion on The Paseo and went to Arrowhead to shoot behind-the-scenes photos on the set of the Hallmark movie, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.

Daniela Barzallo, a UMKC graduate student and Kansas City magazine summer intern, has written several articles the past few months, including last issue’s story about a low-rider bike program helping at-risk youth.

Kansas City August 2024

Let’s give ’em PUMPKIN to talk about!

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The Heart of the Ozarks

UP FRONT

Feedback

Say What?

Pickleball Below the Adam’s Mark?

Our story about developers turning the former CoCo Key Water Resort beneath the closed Adam’s Mark hotel into a pickleball venue solicited all sorts of comments. The shuttered hotel and water resort sits across the street from the Truman Sports Complex, the current home of the Chiefs and Royals.

You have got to be joking.

We need affordable housing, not pickleball.

–Jana Jeffery

So wrong. That area needs a hotel with a sports bar. Being in the heart of America with all our sports teams it would be so much better than pickleball courts.

–Veronica Weddle

out there. Complete and utter embarrassment to the city. And we wonder why we can’t get a Superbowl.

“I wrote about dinosaur eggs. I wrote about ancient rock art. The big one I got to do was a story about Aksum in northern Ethiopia.

They still claim to have the Ark of the Covenant.

It’s kind of amazing.”

- Author Candice Millard

Numbers From This Issue

$218 million

Expected cost of the South Loop park project

1986 Page 26

Year the Westport Chess Club came to be

69 Page 82

Number of acres longtime resident Jack Dryden donated to the city of Belton for an arboretum Page 21

Shout-out

To Kansas City magazine marketing interns Gina Favero and Jack Sublett for starting a TikTok account, @kansascitymagazine.

–Sherri James

Fifty-plus years of nondevelopment around the stadiums. Is this the start?

–Lou Havrilla

It’s haunted.

–Terri Notz

Good that area needs all the help it can get.

–Janet Myers

Good move, develop the area instead of abandoning it. We don’t need another blighted area in the metro.

–Mary Nestel

I have never ever understood why somebody didn’t develop something

18

Kansas City August 2024

Contact Us

KC Publishing, LLC 605 W. 47th St., Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64112 (913) 469-6700

Email

editor@kansascitymag.com

Behind the Scenes Scan the QR code to check out Kansas City magazine online.

Photographer Zach Bauman trying to make friends with the donkeys at Deanna Rose Farmstead.

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L EAD ING T HE CONVERSAT ION IN KA NSAS C I T Y

Nature’s Cure

A longtime Belton resident and retired pharmacist donated 69 acres of land to be turned into an arboretum

By Reece Parker Photography by Jill Draper

TWO YEARS AGO, Brian Welborn, director of the Belton Parks and Recreation Department,

was headed down to Branson to play a round of golf when he got a call. “I normally don’t take phone calls that I don’t recognize when I’m away from the office,” he says, “and for some reason that day I took the call and it was Jack. It was Mr. Dryden.”

Ninety-five-year-old Belton resident Jack Dryden donated 69 acres of land to the Belton Parks and Recreation Department to be developed into an arboretum. “It is very unique to have an individual donate this size property,” Welborn says.

Dryden was born in Lee’s Summit but raised in Belton. “I just thought it was a good opportunity to give something to the village that helped raise me,” Dryden says.

(Continued on next page) kansascitymag.com August 2024

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N AT U R E ’ S C U R E

Renderings of the arboretum's proposed visitors center.

22 Kansas City August 2024

1931. Although the store closed in 2010, Dryden still maintains a small museum near the old Main Street location. On display are various pharmaceutical objects from years past, such as vintage scales, mortars and pestles and old vials of medicine. The museum is not currently open to the public, as daily operation became difficult, but Dryden does open the museum to interested parties upon request.

When it came to designing the visitors center and deciding what should go inside, Dryden’s pharmaceutical artifacts were a natural fit.

There are also plans to grow many of the same plants that are used to make medicines on the property, Welborn says. Dryden is excited about the concept and to share his artifacts with a wider audience.

“The value is we have a local dignitary from Belton in Jack Dryden, and we are keeping his dream alive,” Welborn says.

RENDERINGS PROVIDED BY SFS ARCHITEC TURE

The land is located south of Belton High School and adjacent to Cleveland Lake Park, which, until about a year ago, Dryden also owned. Dryden sold the lake to the city and then donated much of the surrounding land to create the Cleveland Lake Park.

Dryden’s most recent land donation will extend the recreational area. Dryden, who has been farming the land for half a century, did not want to see it developed into commercial spaces or subdivisions.

“Environmentally, I think we’re gonna need more trees [and] we’re on a path where we need to do things like this,” Dryden says.

Over the years, Dryden and his wife have enjoyed Powell Gardens and the Overland Park arboretum, and he was inspired by those spaces.

“I wanted something that would be used by people and enjoyed by people,” Dryden says.

Before discussing land plans with the city, Dryden sought advice on his own and consulted with landscape architects at SWT Design, creating a base plan. Welborn and the Parks Department are now also working with SWT Design and SFS Architecture to develop final plans. Currently the project includes several miles of nature trails, an amphitheater, an events center and a visitors center. The visitors center will be modeled after a 100-year-old round barn that was on the property but had to be demolished because it was too far gone to be renovated and used. The land will also include a botanical garden, greenhouse, pumpkin patch and sunflower field.

The arboretum, which Welborn and Dryden hope will be a regional draw, is estimated to cost around $20 million. The project’s funding will come from various sources, including sales tax and grants, and is projected to be finished by 2027 or 2028.

The arboretum will also have an educational component, borrowing from Dryden’s personal family history. For four generations, the Dryden family owned and operated Dryden Drug (401 Main St., Belton), a pharmacy in Belton. Dryden’s father opened the original store in

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

The Best Is Yet to Come This Best of Kansas City issue seems an appropriate to introduce myself as the new publisher of this esteemed publication. I am aware that I have impressive shoes to fill. The former publisher, Kathy Boos, adroitly guided the magazine for nearly 20 years. Her loving touch and passion for Kansas City are felt in every small piece of this publication. She created something really special. However, with the state of journalism and publishing, the real questions may be: Why this magazine? And why now?

In a world where the buzziest terms are “artificial intelligence,” “on-demand” and “scalability,” magazine publishing is a decidedly anachronistic pursuit.

Although we have a strong and growing digital following, the centerpiece of Kansas City magazine remains a monthly compendium of long-form journalism and high-quality photography—printed on paper (paper!).

It all sounds rather quaint and old-fashioned.

The beating heart of Kansas City magazine is a cadre of talented editors and writers who ask the questions and write the stories that AI never could.

We work with photographers, videographers and artists who create imagery that deepens our readers’ understanding and make connections that define our humanity. The magazine is owned not by a publishing conglomerate but by a group of lifelong Kansas Citians who love their hometown.

24 Kansas City August 2024

All of this is brought to your mailbox, month after month, by a small but thoroughly human team.

In this very essence I see opportunity. Of course, we will grow and change with the times. We will find ways to engage younger generations who might lack our natural affinity for print magazines. But at our heart, we will strive to embody our hometown’s spirit and be the Best of Kansas City.

Dave Claflin PUBLISHER

dave@kansascitymag.com

Loving our neighbors, serving our community, and supporting Kansas City.

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Online at resurrection.church/live Locations in Leawood, Downtown, Olathe, Blue Springs, Overland Park and Brookside.

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Do We Finally Have a Bandage for the “Cut”?

A new round of funding is moving the South Loop project forward

By Ryan Reed THOUGH BUILT WITH the best intentions, what is known as the “Kansas

City Cut,” a sunken freeway that slices through the heart of the city, has proven over the years to be a deep wound.

Constructed primarily in the 1960s, Interstate 670 was built as a way to connect I-35 and I-70. But rather than serving as a connection, it divides the Power and Light District from the Crossroads, creating a wall of noise and pollution for those who live nearby. City officials, who have long been looking at ways to remedy the situation, recently approved millions in state and federal funding to create a four-block park known as the South Loop Project, which would cover the belowground roadway with an urban park. The undertaking would have a number of environmental effects beyond creating outdoor gathering spaces—such as blocking the emissions from seven lanes of traffic, quieting the roar of the interstate and dropping the temperature for blocks of exposed, heat-absorbing concrete.

26 Kansas City August 2024

U R B A N OA S I S

The South Loop project has been in the works for almost two decades, when the Power and Light District was beginning to take shape and thenMayor Kay Barnes first floated the idea. Since then, it has encountered several funding setbacks—namely the Department of Transportation’s rejection of two multi-million-dollar grant applications. However, with the latest round of approved funding by city officials, the project has now raised approximately $130 million of the proposed $218 million price tag, and they are hopeful that at least half of the project will be completed by 2026, just in time to welcome visitors coming to town for the World Cup soccer games.

“We expect to break ground by the end of this year,” says Kansas City’s City Manager Brian Platt. “This park will add much-needed green space downtown, reduce the harmful noise and air pollution impacts of the highway and will create a new centerpiece destination for residents.”

Other cities have taken similar measures to repair the divisions caused by mid-century highway expansions. The Klyde Warren Park in Dallas, Texas, was an almost identical project to KC’s South Loop.

By most accounts, the Dallas park has been successful in creating a downtown green space where food trucks gather and workers spend their lunches outside.

Downtown resident Shannon Moran looks forward to the possibilities of a new park. “As someone who lives right in the area and walks over those streets often, I think that a dedicated green, walkable space is a great idea,” Moran says. “I’d be excited to have a strong communal center, shade provided by trees and a nice space for my dog to play.”

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Sunflower Fields Forever

By Daniela Barzallo GET A LAST bit of fun in the sun before summer turns to autumn with the

Kansas City Sunflower Festival, hosted by the Kansas City Pumpkin Patch.

In this family-friendly event, guests get access to an acre of bright, beautiful sunflowers and unlimited photo opportunities. There are also fall fun activities such as a mega slide, barn party and corn cob

beach and more than 60 farm activities. Wine and beer, a cider bar, various festival foods and wine slushies are also available for noshing and imbibing.

The Kansas City Pumpkin Patch hosts a variety of festivals throughout the year: the KC Jurassic Farm in June and early July, which featured more than 20 life-sized dinosaur statues; the Fall Festival in October with a pumpkin patch and other farm-related fun; and a holiday light GO: experience called Winter Wonderland that August 9–25. runs from late November through December.

13875 S. Gardner Road, kcpumpkinpatch.com.

Olathe, KS.

↓

kansascitymag.com August 2024

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aug B E AT

1

3

Country musician Orville Peck gained widespread popularity in less than half a decade by breathing new life into the genre— and bringing a sense of delightful surprise to it. Most known for his signature fringe mask that conceals his true identity from the public, the masked singer is hitting KC in support of the Stampede Tour, aptly named after his EP Stampede: Vol. 1 released in May. August 1. 7 pm. Grinders.

Get grillin’ and groovin’ with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as they host this summer celebration featuring live music, admission to the museum and, of course, hot dogs galore. At the Hot Dog Festival, sausage aficionados can sample ballpark franks— including the signature Kansas City Monarch Dog—and other offerings from food trucks. There will also be mascot appearances and live

Orville Peck

4

Heart of America Hot Dog Festival

music performances by Stokley, Brownstone and more. August 3.

3 pm. The Paseo between 18th & Truman.

T-Mobile Center.

10

Whitney Cummings

Comedian Whitney Cummings gained popularity with regular appearances on late-night’s Chelsea Lately and as a Comedy Central roaster. She got her big TV breakout as a creator of 2 Broke Girls and in her own short-lived sitcom, Whitney. After the birth of her first child, she’s going on her aptly named Big Baby comedy tour.

August 10. 7 pm. Uptown Theater.

9

12

Rock band Blink-182 became emblematic of the masculine, eff-the-establishment vibes that took over airways and the cultural zeitgeist of the late ’90s and early aughts, a time filled with programs like Jackass and the nowinfamously disastrous Woodstock

First gaining widespread fame as a dumb but loveable community college athlete on the 2010s sitcom Community, Donald Glover has repeatedly shown his artistic genius as the creator of the widely acclaimed series Atlanta and as rapper Childish Gambino, who has been a favorite of hip-hop fans and critics alike for over a decade. He’s on tour for Childish Gambino’s newest album, Atavista, a somewhat disappointing followup from his critically acclaimed and nearly universally beloved 2016 album Awaken, My Love!.

Hollywood royalty Willow opens.

Blink-182

Boyz II Men Hide your aunts because iconic R&B boy (to men) band Boyz II Men is coming to KC with opener Robin Thicke, bringing their timeless baby makin’ hits like “I’ll Make Love to You” and “End of the Road” to Kansas City. Their songs are so smooth that Putin allegedly asked them to perform in 2013 in an effort to fight Russia’s declining population. Need we say more? August 4. 7:30 pm. Starlight Theatre.

Childish Gambino

Aug 12. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

15

Luke Bryan

Country musician Luke Bryan has followed what seems to be a successful blueprint for many contemporary mainstream artists by becoming more recognizable as a reality TV judge on American Idol in recent years. He’s hitting KC on his Mind of a Country Boy Tour, in support of his recently released single of the same name, with Alana Springsteen, Chase Matthew and Chayce Beckham opening.

August 15. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

16

Pearls of the Baroque: Concert III

As part of the 15th anniversary of their inaugural concert, the KC Baroque Consortium is holding a three-part celebration across

30 Kansas City August 2024

PHOTOGR APHY CHRIS MARTIN; TREVOR PAV LIK

WHAT YOU WA N T TO D O TH IS MO NTH BY M O LLY HIGGINS

’99 festival. The middle-aged band has kept their boyish rebel vibes but mellowed out a bit.

Now, they’re touring in support of their 2023 album One More Time… with openers Pierce the Veil and Astronoid. August 9. 7 pm.

C A L E N DA R

the summer featuring talented musicians playing classical music.

The final performance of the run features concertmaster and violinist Daniel S. Lee and Trevor Stewart on the recorder. They’ll play Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 by Bach and selected music from favorites Vivaldi, Corelli and Handel. August 16. 7:30 pm.

Visitation Catholic Church.

16

Mariachi Estrella

The Midwest Trust Center and Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art collaborate for the Light Up the Lawn Concert Series, featuring live music from local musicians. For these free, family-friendly events, guests are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets.

Composed of six musicians, KCbased mariachi band Mariachi Estrella KC brings the joy of traditional Mexican music to events across the Midwest— including a Chiefs halftime performance in 2021. August 16.

8:30 pm. Nerman Museum lawn.

16–18

Ethnic Enrichment Festival

Celebrating its 45th anniversary, the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City presents one of the largest gatherings celebrating multiculturalism in KC, the Ethnic Enrichment Festival. The festival presents different foods, crafts and other homemade goods from cultures across the world, along with live performances of music, dance and a fashion show to celebrate all that makes us unique.

Bonus: Parking is free, and kids under 12 get in free. August 16–18.

Times vary. Swope Park.

17 & 18

Bluey’s Big Play

The award-winning, feel-good, animated kids’ series hits the road for fans of all ages to see the Heeler family as they’ve never seen them before in Bluey’s Big Play, the stage show. Based on an original story written by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, with new music by composer Joff Bush, this spectacular stage show also features puppetry, live actors and iconic sets based on the beloved series. August 17 & 18. 12:30 and 3:30 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Zach Bryan Oklahoma-born country singer Zach Bryan has astronomically risen to fame in the past few years by breaking the typical mold of country superstar for something a little more pared-down and authentic.

Last year’s sold-out Burn, Burn, Burn Tour established Bryan as a live concert favorite, and collaborations with musicians Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers and Noah Kahan have solidified his place in the hipster-indie scene. Levi Turner and Matt Maeson open. August

20& 21 20 & 21. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

20–25

West Side Story

This iconic musical features music by late legendary lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim and is based on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Now almost equally iconic (and perhaps even more beloved) in its own right, West Side Story follows the rivalry between teenage street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks, in the mid-50s in the Upper West Side as two star-crossed lovers get caught in the turmoil. You know how the story goes. August 20–25. 8 pm.

Starlight Theatre.

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The Freedom Affair

Part of the free, family-friendly Light Up the Lawn Concert Series, there will be immersive activities and a performance from The Freedom Affair. Guests will be able to make seed mandalas, see Nerman’s newest exhibition, Actions for the Earth: Art, Care & Ecology (running through Dec. 8), and get a bite from a local food truck before the show.

Female-fronted soul band The Freedom Affair blends refined vocal harmonies while backed by a powerhouse band. Throughout this year, they are releasing four stand-

by celebrating the starting point of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails in lil’ ole Independence. In its early days, the festival primarily had simple pioneer contests. Now, it includes goodies from artisan vendors, local entertainment from solo artists to cover bands, carnival foods, the most fun, shoddily made festival rides you can imagine and, of course, lots of good people-watching. August

alone singles recorded in their Kansas City studio in anticipation of their sophomore album, which will be released in early 2025.

August 23. 8:30 pm. Nerman Museum lawn.

Aug 30– Sept 1 Irish Fest

In true Irish form, the Irish Fest promises a lot of spirited music and dancing (with stomping, clapping and hollering, of course) and, obviously, beer. This tribute to Irish culture and community features entertainment from The Elders, Gaelic Storm and more, as well as traditional shops (with lots of Celtic knot imagery), authentic cuisine (carbs), art in the park and other activities for the family that center around whiskey and Catholicism, obviously. August 30–September 1.

Times vary. Crown Center.

Aug 30– Sept 2 SantaCaliGon Days

Started 84 years ago, SantaCaliGon Days commemorates local history

30–September 2. Times vary.

Independence Square.

Aug 30– Oct 13 Renaissance Festival

Starting as a small benefit for the Kansas City Art Institute in 1977, the Renaissance Festival has blossomed into one of the city’s most-beloved events, drawing nearly a quarter of a million visitors each year willing to let their freak flag fly.

Transport yourself into a longbygone era with live jousting performances, giant turkey legs and men in tights. August 31–October 13. Saturdays and Sundays. Times vary. 633 N. 130th St., Bonner Springs.

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H I S TO RY B U F F

Making History

Local author Candice Millard writes books on fascinating historical events you’ve probably never heard about

By Nicole Kinning TANZANIA. FRANCE. The Amazon. Belgium. These are just a few of the places

Candice Millard has traveled for her writing.

Now based in Leawood, Millard spent several years living in New York, where she was an editor and writer for National Geographic. Her stories took her around the globe.

“I wrote about people in Mongolia who still use eagles to hunt with,” she says. “I wrote about dinosaur eggs. I wrote about ancient rock art. The big one I got to do was a story about Aksum in northern Ethiopia. They still claim to have the Ark of the Covenant. It’s kind of amazing.”

In tandem with her migration to a Midwest home base with her growing family, Millard shifted from magazine journalism to authoring books. The idea for her first published book, The River of Doubt, was inspired by a friend. “[He] had written a book called 1912, which was about the election of 1912,” Millard says. “Theodore Roosevelt lost that election, and he went to the Amazon and went down the River of Doubt as a form of self-punishment.” The river is a treacherous and uncharted

32

Kansas City August 2024

part of the Amazon, where “Indians armed with poison-tipped arrows haunt its shadows; piranhas glide through its waters; boulder-strewn rapids turn the river into a roiling cauldron,” as Millard wrote in her book.

She went on to compose a book proposal about this event, which led to a bidding war among the top eight publishing houses in New York. The River of Doubt hit bookshelves in 2006.

Millard’s niche lies in uncovering and detailing historical events that many haven’t heard about. Her second book, Destiny of the Republic, was sparked by a deep dive she was doing on Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the first known metal detector to locate a bullet in the body of assassinated president James Garfield. (He ended up dying not due to the assassination but rather medical malpractice. Fascinating, right? More on that in Destiny of the Republic.) Millard’s most recent book, Hero of the Empire, details Winston Churchill’s capture and escape as a prisoner of war in South Africa when he was in his 20s.

Millard is also quick to note that there’s no shortage of archival and historical research resources here in Kansas City, some of which she uses for her books. “My new book is set in World War I,” she says. “I’ve been doing research at the World War I Museum, which we’re so lucky to have. It’s an incredible resource for anybody interested in history. They have a great archive, and the archivists there are fantastic.” She also appreciates the fresh renovations at the Truman Library and the influence it has not just in Kansas City but nationwide.

Speaking of her new book, which she is currently writing, Millard gives a quick plot teaser: The factual story revolves around three female characters who hid allied soldiers left behind after their battles during WWI. “One is a nurse in Brussels hiding soldiers in her clinic; another is a school teacher just over the border in northern France hiding them in her classroom; and the third is a princess in France hiding these men in her castle.”

One of the biggest—and most enjoyable—challenges Millard faces is telling these stories without them sounding like a history textbook. To accomplish this, she’s mindful of incorporating foreshadowing and cliffhangers into her narratives. “There’s a difference between a subject and a story,” she says. “A subject is what you read in history class. You know, you’re memorizing dates and places and names. History is a story, and you have to think about how you’re going to tell it.”

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

B E AT

B E AT

B AC K B E AT

KC Jazz Alive’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker 2024

For the final event of this year’s Spotlight: Charlie Parker series, KC Jazz Alive is partnering up with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra as their featured artist. The ensemble is set to perform Parker’s bebop standards—including “Anthropology” and “Now’s the Time”—as well as other tunes pertinent to his career. Many of the big band arrangements will be tailor-made for the occasion.

The evening will be emceed by historian and radio host Chuck Haddix. The author of Bird: The Life and Music of Charlie Parker, Haddix will provide context on the musical selections and share stories about Bird for a captivating and informative experience.

↓

GO: Aug. 24, 7 pm. Folly Theater (300 W. 12th St., KCMO).

Tickets range from $20-$68 and are available at follytheater.org.

Bird Salute

Three performances honoring Charlie “Bird” Parker’s legacy this month

By Nina Cherry ALTO SAXOPHONIST Charlie Parker forever altered the trajectory of jazz.

“There isn’t a note that’s played today in jazz that doesn’t in some way tie back to the influence of Charlie Parker,” says B.J. Jansen, vice president of KC Jazz Alive.

Appreciated and remembered throughout the world, Parker—often referred to as “Bird”—goes down in history as not only one of the most significant jazz musicians but also one of the most famous Kansas Citians. In honor of the bebop saxophonist’s 104th birthday on Aug. 29, the city will be celebrating his legacy throughout the month.

Kadesh Flow and Lucy and Bram Wijnands

Each year, KC Jazz Alive presents the event series Spotlight: Charlie Parker. Now in its 11th year, this year’s programming includes a well-rounded cast of musicians.

“This month is a huge opportunity for Kansas City to celebrate Parker—somebody who’s known on the world stage but may or may not be known in Kansas City,” Jansen says. “But we also want to spotlight what a great music scene we have in Kansas City.”

Father-daughter duo Bram and Lucy Wijnands are always a thrill to watch. They collaborate in a very special way that only a biological bond can provide. Lucy, who resides in Brooklyn, and Bram, a Kansas City-based pianist, often play classic, swinging standards.

Kadesh Flow, on the other hand, represents a more contemporary style, melding hip-hop and jazz. The artist is a clever improviser, whether he’s spitting bars or blowing changes on trombone.

↓

GO: Aug. 15, 5 pm. KC Bier Co. (310 W. 79th St., KCMO). No cover.

34 Kansas City August 2024

↓

GO: Aug. 29, 8 am, Bird Lives statue (located at the southeast corner of 17th Terrace and the Paseo). Free.

BEHIND THE NICKNAME

Lots of tales claim to explain the origin of Charlie Parker’s nickname, Yardbird—a nickname frequently shortened to Bird. As historian Chuck Haddix explains in his biography on Parker, the saxophonist acquired the title in the early days of his career, before he took flight in NYC. At the time, Parker regularly played in pianist Jay McShann’s orchestra. While the big band was en route to the college town of Lincoln, Nebraska, to play for fraternities and sororities, a chicken ran out on the highway right in front of their car. Parker urged the driver to pull over, collected the ill-fated “yardbird” and brought it with him. When the band arrived at their host’s house for the evening, the resourceful saxophonist asked if the host could prepare it for dinner. To his satisfaction, she did.

His bandmates jeered, and the nickname stuck.

PHOTOGR APHY COURTESY L ABUDDE SPECIAL COLLEC TIONS

Birthday Bird

The American Jazz Museum is teaming up with KC Jazz Alive to honor Parker bright and early on his birthday at the Bird Lives statue. The salute will feature another one of Kansas City’s internationally renowned alto saxophonists, Bobby Watson. The former Jazz Messenger is a living legend, and a chance to see him perform locally—and for free—is a rare treat.

Afterward, the museum has a full day of programming scheduled, including a jazz storytelling program for children, a listening session of Parker’s lost Kansas City recordings led by Haddix and a free concert in the evening. More details are available at americanjazzmuseum.org.

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kansascitymag.com August 2024

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CURAT ING A BE AU T I FU L L I FE

Party Plates

By Molly Higgins AS SUMMER INCHES closer to fall, end-of-summer, back-to-school

and Labor Day parties abound. Ditch the plain dinnerware in favor of something fun and festive to jazz up any table.

KC-based creators Carrie Kiefer and Morgan Georgie of Ampersand Design Studio make whimsical home decor, including paper goods, pillows, drinkware, plates and more. Kiefer and Georgie met in design school and have been virtually inseparable since—even today, they live only five minutes apart. They have a shared design aesthetic and, now, a shared studio space where they work collaboratively alongside each other to create eye-catching designs. Their wares can be found Photography by Beth Grimm

in several Made in KC marketplaces and at their flagship store and studio in Waldo (211 E. Gregory Blvd., KCMO).

Their latest tray and platter designs are quintessential Ampersand, featuring colorful, eye-catching motifs that don’t take themselves too seriously. The platters come in both circular and rectanglar shapes with rounded edges and are made of birchwood and melamine, a type of food-safe plastic. While all the designs encapsulate a whimsical mood, they range from minimalist black and white designs to bright color-block shapes to repeating patterns of KC’s iconic shuttlecock on the Nelson lawn.

Whether you use the round plates as a decorative element under normal dinnerware for parties or the platters for a photo-worthy charcuterie board, these colorful designs are sure to make an impression. kansascitymag.com August 2024

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CURRENT

TREND

“Digital art is art that is created using any kind of computer program or software— Photoshop, for example.”

Digital Dreamin’

Mary McCawley brings KC’s first digital art gallery, Digital Dreams KC, to the Crossroads

By Molly Higgins LESS THAN A YEAR after creating pop-up shows around town for digital artists,

Kansas City native Mary McCawley opened KC’s first digital-only art gallery, Digital Dreams KC, in the Crossroads this past spring.

When McCawley came back to KC after living in Colorado for seven years, she was surprised that the KC arts scene was largely unchanged and there wasn’t a gallery in the city focused solely on digital art.

“Digital art is art that is created using any kind of computer program or software— Photoshop, for example,” McCawley says. “Adobe has a whole suite of programs that are essential to most digital artists, from Adobe Animate to Adobe Illustrator. It’s anything that’s using a computer program to create a picture.”

38 Kansas City August 2024

Being the owner of the first digital arts-focused gallery of its kind in KC, McCawley likes to keep the dialogue going between creators and local artists and is always open to changing and challenging the narratives of what digital art can be. Before every new monthly exhibit, McCawley puts out open calls for both local and international artists to submit their work.

“We feature eight different artists each month in different mediums and different themes,” McCawley says. “So for example, in May our theme was digital identity, which looked at: ‘How did the internet affect your identity. Did the internet take your identity?

Did it shape your entire identity? Do you use the internet to escape your real world identity? Who are you on the internet, and how does that shape your perception of self?’ [Those are] the questions I asked the artists for the open call.”

While most of the submissions have been from international artists, McCawley is hoping to get more KC-based artists involved, which can be challenging because digital art isn’t as predominant of a medium in the Midwest. McCawley will continue to put out open calls for themed monthly exhibitions, which will premiere at First Fridays in the Crossroads and run for the month. Digital Dreams KC (2018 Main St., KCMO) is open from 4 to 10 pm daily (except Sundays) and by appointment.

“Digital Dreams brings Kansas City its first digital art gallery—a gallery space that’s dedicated to showing digital art in different mediums and forums from global, national and local digital artists,” McCawley says.

“When you don’t have something that you assumed you had, especially in the arts and culture department, it’s probably filling a void. I hope in five years, we’re incorporating digital art in with the physical. Whether they used a paintbrush on a canvas or used a digital stylus pen on a tablet, someone created this and it’s still art. We’re living in a digital world. It makes sense to have spaces where we’re enjoying art in the same digital format that everything else we’re consuming is in.”

Photography by Laura Morsman

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I N T E RV I E W

“We want to make things dramatic and build a story and motives behind it. I didn’t want to talk about murder. It’s hard to be silly when you’re still ending it on a down note.”

How did the idea for the podcast come about? Rose:

We both wanted to create something that nobody had done before. I’m more fascinated with true crime, and Trevin is more fascinated with comedy and satire.

When you think about a true crime comedy podcast, most of the time it’s serious topics, but they’ll bring in their own humor throughout the show. We wanted to flip that around and talk about petty crimes—no murder, nothing like that—but we wanted to make it overly dramatic and humorous.

What can people expect from the podcast? Bartee:

Dark Humor

Nearly 200 episodes in, quirky podcast Live, Laugh, Larceny subverts expectations of the true crime genre by only covering petty, often silly crimes in a dramatic way

By Molly Higgins PODCASTERS AMANDA ROSE and Trevin Bartee first met 10 years ago at a tempo-

rary job they both call one of their most “random”—a warehouse for a train brake repair company. They bonded over both being from small towns: Bartee is from Plattsburg, Missouri, and Rose is from Leon, Kansas (which has a population of 657 as of 2022). Both creatives, they wanted an outlet, so they decided to venture into the uber-popular realm of podcasting together.

Aiming to produce a crime podcast outside the over-saturated genre’s norm, Rose and Bartee, who recently made their debut at CrimeCon 2024, created KC-based Live, Laugh, Larceny, which they describe as a “true petty crime podcast.” The podcast is now nearly 200 episodes in and has collaborated with successful podcasts like Generation Why and And That’s Why We Drink. We talked with Rose and Bartee about having fun in the true crime genre and what’s next for Live, Laugh, Larceny.

40 Kansas City August 2024

We want to make things dramatic and build a story and motives behind it. I didn’t want to talk about murder.

It’s hard to be silly when you’re still ending it on a down note. We take dumb criminal stories, make them sound dramatic and do them in a deadpan, Dateline sort of way. We’re both super dramatic people, so no matter how small of a thing it is, we can blow it up. It was really natural for Amanda and I to take something as dumb as these petty crimes and build mountains out of molehills—we already do it with our own daily problems. And as long as a petty act is done, we’ll cover it in this true crime way.

What does the future look like for the podcast? Bar-

tee: I want to work with more comedy podcasts because we have a lot of fun with crime people, but because we can play in both sandboxes—we’ve played heavily in the true crime one—my goal is to get more names in comedy [on the podcast] and get more comedy listeners. We [were] one of the only comedy podcasts to ever be at CrimeCon. When I told them we had a comedy podcast, their eyes lit up every time. It just seems like something that the world of CrimeCon is kind of missing because it has such a party atmosphere.

Not only did we deserve a chance, but I think having comedy at a place like this is necessary—and it’s my goal to be the resident funny podcast of CrimeCon. Photography by Ian Simmons

Thank You, Kansas City, for voting us

Best Jewelry Store

CURRENT

42 Kansas City August 2024

HOME

Whimsy in Weston

The owner and creator of The Mixx and Caffetteria Modern Cafe takes us inside her Weston retreat

By Katie Currid

kansascitymag.com August 2024

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CURRENT

Jo Marie Scaglia’s

Weston home is a testament to her talent for repurposing.

“I prefer to buy old things and redo them,” Scaglia says. “Everything has a story. Everything has meaning. A lot of it is nostalgic to me.

That’s the inspiration for when I do a home.”

Scaglia, the restaurateur behind The Mixx at the Plaza and in OP and Caffetteria Modern Cafe in Prairie Village, purchased her charming 1922 home in 2020 and transformed it into a sanctuary filled with unique finds and personal touches. She sourced most of the decor from garage sales, antique markets and estate sales.

The renovation of the home, which took 10 months to complete, involved necessary updates to plumbing, electricity and flooring. It also entailed raising the roofline to create 12-foot ceilings, making the 1,100-square-foot home’s small footprint feel roomy and much larger. One of the best additions turned out to be the 600-square-foot screened-in porch on the back of the property, complete with a fireplace and heaters, making it the perfect spot for cozy evenings, says Scaglia.

44 Kansas City August 2024

With its rich history, secondhand treasures and the charming town of Weston as its backdrop, Scaglia’s home is the perfect escape from her everyday hustle as a busy restaurateur. “I call it my escape sanctuary—my padded room so I don’t have to go to the insane asylum because my work is so busy,” Scaglia says with a smile.

This house isn’t Scaglia’s primary residence. She lives full-time in Mission Woods, and the Weston home serves as a weekend retreat.

Unsurprisingly, the cozy home has become a creative haven and respite for Scaglia and her daughter, Star. Scaglia often starts her morning off with a coffee on the back porch and then takes time to build a decadent breakfast plate.

“I like to cook up here,” Scaglia says. “It’s a creative space where I can just kind of, like, let everything be.” Her favorite way to spend time in the Weston house is creating new recipes, gorgeous charcuterie boards or even floral arrangements and savoring time with her daughter.

HOME

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46 Kansas City August 2024

HOME

The historic town of Weston itself adds to the home’s retreat feel and serves as further inspiration. “I love to go downtown and shop the stores,” Scaglia says. “I love to go to the [historic Weston] orchard and pick apples and peaches. I like to go to Green Dirt’s tasting room, Noah’s [Delicatessen] for dinner, Avalon for a glass of wine and baked brie in the afternoon, and I’ll stop into the speakeasy [The Whiskey Snug].”

While the home’s interior is almost unrecognizable from its pre-renovation state, Scaglia honors its history throughout. The patio tables on the screened-in porch are crafted from the original doors of the house, and candlesticks were made from the columns of the old front porch. Bricks from the original chimney were also repurposed as flooring in the garden shed.

Coupled with Scaglia’s love of history is her passion for original art and support of local artists, showcased on almost every inch of the 12-foot-tall walls.

“When I moved from San Francisco to Kansas City at 22, I promised myself I would only buy original artwork,” Scaglia says. That promise has resulted in an eclectic mix of paintings and unique garage sale finds adorning the walls. “I buy everything I love. If you buy what you love, you’ll love what you have. When you put it together, it’s going to work well.”

In Scaglia’s home, it certainly works well. It’s a place where you’re constantly finding new things to look at and admire, whether it’s her impressive vintage dishware collection, her walls and walls of contemporary art or the colorful pops of wallpaper hidden throughout the home. The house came with character, and as a thoughtful maximalist, Scaglia added her own as well.

“It’s pretty characteristic of me and the way I design things,” she says. “It’s buying used things and repurposing them, even if it’s not the purpose that it’s used for. Everyone’s trash is someone else’s treasure.” kansascitymag.com August 2024

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PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

BEST OF KANSAS CITY 2024 We’re always searching for the best Kansas City has to offer. That’s why we asked you, our readers, everything from where to find the best bowl of pho to who’s the best bartender in town. And for good measure, we picked a few of our own KC favorites, too, like the perfect spot to stop and smell the roses and where to find a hamburger at 3 am.

By DAWNYA BARTSCH, DANIELA BARZALLO, MOLLY HIGGINS and ARIAL WHALEY

kansascitymag.com August 2024

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54 Kansas City August 2024

PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN

BEST OF KANSAS CITY FOOD AND DRINK Best Hot Dog JIM’S HOT DOGS (See next page)

Want to know the best spot in town to grab a hot dog, according to your neighbors? Or perhaps where to dine when someone else is paying? Maybe you just want to find the perfect glazed doughnut to go with your morning coffee. Well, we’ve got you covered.

kansascitymag.com August 2024

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY

R E A DER S ’ CHOICE

Best Dog Park Bar K BAR K IN Kansas City is a dog lover’s paradise.

Located on the shore of the Missouri River under the Heart of America Bridge, this unique spot combines a fully equipped dog park with a trendy bar and cafe. Bar K is the ultimate hangout spot for you and your pup. Enjoy craft beers, signature cocktails or a bite to eat while your furry friend socializes in the spacious off-leash areas.

Best Hot Dog Jim’s Alley Bar HOUSED IN ART Alley in the East Crossroads, Jim’s Alley Bar is home to a heartwarming family story, various activities and some really

good hot dogs.

The name Jim runs in the family; even owner Eric Flanagan’s middle name is James. Today, the restaurant is full of pictures of all the Jims in the family, but the name is only one part of the great legacy that lives on here.

Named for Flanagan’s grandfather, World War II veteran James Pagliocco, Jim’s Alley Bar’s mission is to honor Pagliocco’s dedication to his work and loved ones. The bar proudly distributes one percent of quarterly sales to first responder and veteran charities.

On Bingo Mondays, held every week from 6 to 8 pm, the bar sells Bingo Dogs, which include a toasted bun, grilled onions, mustard, ketchup and a side. (Pro tip: they also have the dogs on special for Chiefs games during football season.) The everyday menu includes various comfort foods, like sliders (complete with American cheese), Italian beef sandwiches, pasta salads, salty hot pretzels and more.

Jim’s also hosts other activities such as a shuffleboard league in the summer, which is open to teams of two every Thursday for seven weeks.

56 Kansas City August 2024

PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN; PROVIDED

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

FOOD AND DRINK

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

ALONG THE BANKS of the Missouri River, the Berkley

LOOKING FOR AN after-midnight snack? Open 24 hours since 1955, Hayes

Riverfront development is transforming Kansas City.

Once an industrial zone with warehouses, rail yards and a dump zone, the decades-long effort by city and private developers to see a dynamic riverfront is finally coming to fruition.

The Berkley Riverfront boasts 17 acres of parks, trails, public spaces and commercial and residential developments. It’s where the bustle of the city meets the serene beauty of nature. Currently, residents and visitors can enjoy a craft beer with a waterfront view at the Berkley beer garden, treat four-legged friends to an off-leash trip to Bar K and more. The park hosts events like KC Riverfest, 5K runs and walks, weddings and concerts.

Though the Riverfront was long neglected and even contaminated as it became a dumping ground, this makeover is a nod to Kansas City’s spirit, giving new life to the space that was once the heart of the city’s shipping and trade activities.

Hamburger and Chili in the Northland has got you covered. It’s a small place, with a counter and tiny booths lining its walls, but it’s the place to head to when you’re looking for comfort food anytime, day or night. Although hamburger and chili are part of its moniker, you’ll find much more at Hayes, including breakfast.

But it’s worth mentioning that there’s an important reason the word chili is in the diner’s name. Their chili recipe was developed by current owner Jim Hayes’ grandfather in 1904, when he opened the first Hayes Hamburger and Chili diner in Liberty. That diner is long gone, but the current Hayes Hamburger and Chili diner still uses the same recipe, proving that not much has changed since 1904.

PHOTOGR APHY KC CURRENT; JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

Best Development Berkley Riverfront

Best Place to Eat a Hamburger at 3 am Hayes Hamburger and Chili

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FOOD AND DRINK READERS’ CHOICE

Best Tacos Taco Naco KC Best Barbecue Joe’s Kansas City

Best Gluten-Free Restaurant Billie’s Grocery

Best Farmers Market Overland Park Farmers’ Market

Best Restaurant Red Door Woodfired Grill

Best Pho Vietnam Cafe

Best Burrito Manny’s Mexican Restaurant

Best New Restaurant Taco Naco KC

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant Cafe Gratitude

Best Brunch Spot The Farmhouse

Best Korean Chingu

Best Barbecue Rub Jack Stack BBQ

Best Ramen KC Craft Ramen

Best Gyro Jerusalem Cafe

Best Restaurant When Someone Else Is Paying The Capital Grille

Best Hot Dogs Costco

Best Pizza Minsky’s

Best Patio Brookside Barrio

Best Breakfast First Watch

Best Sandwich Shop Pigwich

Best Chocolatier Christopher Elbow

Best Chef Michael Smith

Best Food Truck Betty Rae’s

Best Diner Town Topic

Best Pie Corner Cafe

Best Pub Food The Peanut

Best Barbecue Sauce Joe’s Kansas City Original Barbeque Sauce

Best Barbecue Sandwich The Z-Man at Joe’s Kansas City Best Mexican Restaurant Ponak’s Best Indian Taj Mahal Best Seafood Spot Bristol Seafood Best Local Doughnut Shop LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee Best Burnt Ends Jack Stack BBQ Best Food Pop-Up Taco Naco KC Best Thai Waldo Thai Best Sushi Blue Sushi Sake Grill Best Italian Garozzo’s Best Gelato SPIN! Pizza

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Best Burger Red Door Woodfired Grill Best Ice Cream Betty Rae’s Best Steak House The Capital Grille Best Bakery McLain’s Bakery Best Ribs Jack Stack BBQ Best Greek Mr. Gyros

Best Smoothie/Juice Bar Ruby Jean’s Juicery Best Coffee Shop The Roasterie Best Hospitality Professional Drew Little, Antler Room Best Food Bargain Aldi Best French Fries Joe’s Kansas City Best Cinnamon Rolls McLain’s Bakery

Holli Careswell, D.D.S.

Find the Right Fit with KC’s Best Dentist • You want to upgrade your smile, but don’t know where to begin • You need a customized dental plan to fit your budget • Same-day crowns and bridges

300 SE 2nd St. Suite 200 Lee’s Summit. MO 64063 816-524-6300 www.careswellanderson.com

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PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN

BEST OF KANSAS CITY SHOPPING AND WEDDING Best Dart Maker HORIZON DARTS (See next page)

Looking for a vintage china pattern? Or perhaps you’re planning your big day and looking for the right florist to create the bouquet of your dreams. There are so many places to consider. Here’s what our readers say.

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PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN

BEST OF KANSAS CITY

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SHOPPING AND WEDDING

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

ONE OF THE best dart-making companies

POWELL GARDENS bursts with natural beauty all year round, but its expansive rose

in the world is hidden away in a nondescript building in KCK. Horizon Darts, the makers of Laserdarts, is known for creations like the Black Widow, one of the best-selling darts of all time, crafted for efficiency and accuracy.

Horizon Darts’ mission is to create “darts with purpose,” prioritizing utility over style, and this dedication to detail has put them on the map as a dart supply and manufacturing company.

“We distribute all over the world,” says vice president Josh Foster. “It’s funny because the people that are outside of Kansas City think that there’s 50 of us here and that we’re this giant corporation, and then everyone in Kansas City doesn’t realize the scope of what we do.”

Despite its recognition worldwide, the company is still a family business. Run by mother and son team Melody and Josh Foster and originally founded by Melody’s sister and brother-in-law in 1985, Horizon Darts was born out of the family’s love for darts and desire to find quality products closer to home.

“I think my biggest pride is the legacy of our family and being known as the best in the world,” Josh says. “It’s humbling to me because we really do put our soul into it.”

garden, which comes to life during the spring and summer, is a wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the flora.

Along with its annual rose garden Bloom Fest, the gardens feature seasonal attractions, such as the Dark Forest, a spooky, immersive walk-through experience in the woods in autumn, and winter’s Festival of Lights. Along with annual spring and summer blooms and an expansive rose garden, Powell Gardens offers gardening workshops, wildlife conservation talks and engaging educational programs for all ages.

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED; SHUT TERSTOCK

Best Dart Maker Horizon Darts

Best Place to Smell the Roses Powell Gardens

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Picture/Selfie Spot The Fun Farm in Kearney FROM FALL TO spring, the Fun Farm in Kearney has the

best opportunities to get the perfect picture. Originally a simple pumpkin patch, the farm now has over 300 acres dedicated to outdoor family activities and experiences that change throughout the year.

Starting in August, the farm is open for apple picking, photo opps and activities like apple cannons, followed by the Fall Festival in September, which features attractions like a pumpkin patch and corn maze.

Spring provides even more picturesque activities with April’s Tulip Festival, featuring more than 12 acres of flowers, and the KC Berry Festival, where visitors can pick their own strawberries.

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SHOPPING AND WEDDING READERS’ CHOICE

Best Wedding Venue The Brim

SHOPPING

Best Makers Market The Strawberry Swing Best Eyeglass Shop Warby Parker Best Local Maker West Bottoms Plant Co. Best Kitchen Store Pryde’s Best Shoe Store Von Maur Best Pop-Up Shop Wasteland Society Best Garden Supply/Nursery Family Tree Nursery Best Craft Studio AdhDiy Craft Cafe

Best Jewelry Store Meierotto Jewelry

Best Hand Letterer Letters by Maude

Best Plant Store Family Tree Nursery

Best Wedding Officiant/Celebrant Timmy Gibson

Best City Market River Market

Best Wedding Band Lost Wax

Best Local Clothing Store ULAH

Best Wedding Planner Taylor Paige, The Perfect Touch

Best Hardware Store Ace Hardware

Best Wedding Videographer Her Third Eye Productions

Best Car Wash GO Car Wash

Best Wedding Caterer Brancato’s

Best Record Store Mills Record Company

Best Place for Rehearsal Dinner Lidia’s

Best Florist Lily Floral Designs

Best Wedding DJ Fernando Productions

Best Butcher Shop Fareway

Best Wedding Florist Katelyn Reiss Wedding Floristry

Best Gift Shop Queen Bee Boutiques

W EDDING

Best Clothing Resale Store Blessings Abound

Best Bridal Shop True Society by Belle Vogue

Best Home Goods Store HomeGoods

Best Tuxedo Shop Slabotsky’s Menswear

Best Hotel Crossroads Hotel

Best Alterations Alterations by Melody

Best Men’s Boutique Roger Figueroa

Best Bachelor Party Venue Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room

Best Women’s Boutique Queen Bee Boutiques Best Antique/Vintage Store River Market Antiques Best Grocery Store Hy-Vee

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Best Wedding Photographer Mary Kate Krause Photography Best Bachelorette Party Venue Power & Light

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

Best Wedding Cake Maker McLain’s Bakery

Thank You Kansas City Best Interior Designer for voting us

We love creating beautiful spaces for our clients by combining their style and our expertise to make their vision a reality.

14221 Metcalf Ave., Suite #101, Overland Park, KS (913) 413-0088 @mldesignskc mldesignskc.com kansascitymag.com August 2024

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PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN

BEST OF KANSAS CITY SERVICES AND HEALTH Best Green Business ZEN DONKEY FARMS (See next page)

Need to find the perfect groomer for Fido? Or maybe you’re in need of a fresh cut and can’t decide where to go.

Perhaps you need a complete makeover or a good massage.

We’ve got you covered.

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY

Best Donkey Sanctuary and Best Green Business Zen Donkey Farms and Zen Donkey Experience ZEN DONKEY FARMS is a sanctuary where humans and donkeys can heal and flourish together, all the while drinking organic juices. The

juice company, as well as its nonprofit arm Zen Donkey Experience—a program that provides therapy via rescued donkeys—has definitely carved out a unique business niche.

Both are about self-empowerment—sort of—one through fueling your body with organic juices and the other serving people with neurological challenges, including traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, insomnia, depression and anxiety via donkeys.

Donkey therapy sessions are administered one-on-one or in small groups and are by appointment only. A key part of the Zen Donkey lifestyle is preventative health, which means drinking raw, organic juice to boost nutrition and overall well-being, and that’s where the juicery business comes in. Zen Donkey Farms offer a range of juices aimed to reset the body and mind, like “Donkey Dreams” and “Field of Greens.”

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PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

SERVICES AND HEALTH EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Place to See Butterflies Monarch Migration Art Walk ALONGSIDE RIVERSIDE’S Line Creek Trail lies the enchanting Monarch Migration Art

Walk. This mile-long journey explores eight artworks that mimic the monarch’s migration flight from Minneapolis to the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico. Each art piece is spaced 7.5 feet apart along the trail, representing one mile of the monarch’s lifelong journey.

Community groups and professional artists made many of the pieces in the collection, such as Monarch Flower Forest, made from recycled materials by Lakeview Middle School students, and Grand Monarch, a stainless steel sculpture by Donald Gialanella.

In conjunction with the trail, there is an enormous community-made origami butterfly display at Riverside’s community center. The Monarch Migration Art Walk in Riverside is an educational outdoor experience that’s perfect for nature lovers and art enthusiasts.

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Place to Dip Your Toes in the Big Muddy English Landing Park PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK; PROVIDED

PARKVILLE’S 68-ACRE English Land-

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Goat Yoga Deanna Rose Farmstead FOR A TRULY unique health experience, head to Deanna Rose Farmstead for goat yoga, where

you’ll strike a pose in the presence of some of the farmstead’s happiest four-legged residents.

Set in the charming, rustic surroundings of the farmstead, the goat yoga class blends relaxation with cuteness. Friendly goats roam freely and sometimes get involved with the exercise, adding a fun twist to any downward dog. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to the practice, the atmosphere is laid back and welcoming. Certified fitness instructors teach 45 minutes of yoga followed by 15 minutes of goat socialization and photo opportunities.

ing Park boasts three miles of scenic trails that closely hug the winding Missouri River, aka the Big Muddy, one of America’s most important natural resources. The river flows more than 2,300 miles from Three Forks, Montana, to St. Louis, where it joins the Mississippi River.

Along with run-of-the-mill amenities such as a playground, picnic shelters, ball fields and sand volleyball courts, the park also has river access points that lead to small beaches and places to explore the shoreline.

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SERVICES AND HEALTH READERS’ CHOICE H E A LT H A N D W E L L N E S S

Best Pilates Studio Pure Barre

Best Running Event Girls on the Run

HOME

Best Landscaper Ryan Lawn & Tree Best Home Security Company Atronic Alarms

Best Physical Therapist Kinsley Judd

Best Heating & Air Conditioning Anthony Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric

Best Acupuncturist Abby Walters, Wellness Warehouse KC

Best Marriage and Family Therapist Simone Jones, LMLP

Best Senior Living Facility Tallgrass Creek

Best Dentist Dr. Graham Naasz, DDS

Best Local Sports Store/Outfitter Scheels

Best Chimney Cleaner Sleep Easy Chimney Service

Best CBD Store From the Earth

Best Crossfit Gym MC CrossFit

Best Custom Countertops Company Rocktops Granite & Stone Fabrication

Best Orthodontist Kelly Toombs, DDS

Best Soaking Pool/Float Tank Floating KC

Best Naturopathic Doctor MaryAnn Rodriguez, Salon Ji

Best Climbing Gym RoKC

Best Concierge Doctor Dr. Kulnarin Gay Purcell

Best Cycling Studio Revive Indoor Cycling

Best Group Therapy Practice The Counseling Collaborative

Best Chiropractor Vita Chiropractic

Best Bike Shop Eric’s Bike Shop

Best Fitness Class Pure Barre

Best Gym Pure Barre

Best Wellness Center Monarch Wellness

Best Massage Therapist Katie Brock, Haven Wellness + Spa

Best Personal Trainer Kinsley Judd

Best Urgent Care Children’s Mercy

Best Premarital Counselor Kieri Olmstead

Best Counselor Caity Gable, LSCSW

Best Yoga Studio Power Life

Best Pediatric Dentist LeBlanc & Associates

Best Family Medicine Practice The University of Kansas Health System

Best Home Builder Fieldstone Fine Homes Best General Construction Company KCBR Design | Remodel Best Pool Company Swim Things Best Property Management Company EPC Real Estate Group Best Interior Designer ML Designs Best Solar Company KC Solar Best Kitchen Remodeling Mid-West & Co. Best Realty Company ReeceNichols Best Home Inspection Company Homestead Inspection Services Best Pest Control Blue Beetle Best Roofing Company Shamrock Roofing

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Best Chef

Michael Smith

Farina & Extra Virgin Thank You for your vote Kansas City.

And Thank You to our Staff for your incredible passion.

Michael Smith kansascitymag.com August 2024

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Photo by: Craig Keene Photography

SERVICES AND HEALTH Best Mortgage Company Roller Mortgage Team, LeaderOne Financial Best Furniture Store Nebraska Furniture Mart Best Real Estate Team GRID at Compass Best Lawn Maintenance Company Ryan Lawn & Tree Best Moving Company Two Men and a Truck

B E AU T Y

Best Lash Services Ashley Chen Best Tanning Salon Sun Tan City Best Makeup Studio Makeup by Cinthia Best Barbershop Noggins Men’s Shop Best Med Spa Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Nail Salon Luxe Nail Spa

Best Plumber/Company Anthony Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric

Best Hair Extensions Specialist Jenn May

Best Injector Jessica Brooks

Best Real Estate Agent Erin Slocum

Best Hair Stylist Kassidi Upton, The Hairapy Co.

Best Eyelash Extension Services Allison Guizar

Best Bath Remodeling KCBR Design | Remodel

Best Eyebrow Waxing Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Esthetician Brielle Mead, Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Apartment Complex One Light Luxury Apartments

Best Hair Color Services Kassidi Upton, The Hairapy Co.

PETS

Best Neighborhood Community Leawood

Best Hair Removal Salon Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Veterinary Practice Marketplace Animal Hospital

Best Basement Waterproofing Company Thrasher Foundation Repair

Best Microblading Cassidy Drace, Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best ER for Pets BluePearl Pet Hospital

Best Electrician/Company Black & McDonald

Best Tattoo Parlor Bleeding Heart Tattoo

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

Best Plastic Surgeon Dr. John M. Quinn, Quinn Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Center

Best Dog Trainer/School The Pet Connection Best Pet Patio Bar K Best Pet Groomer Camp Bow Wow

Best Cosmetic Dentist Holli Careswell, DDS

Best Overnight Kennel Camp Bow Wow

Best Hydrafacial Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Doggie Day Care Camp Bow Wow

Best Hair Salon Collab

Best Local Pet Shop Three Dog Bakery

Best Spa Luminare Aesthetics & Wellness

Best Dog Treats Three Dog Bakery

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY NIGHTLIFE

Best Speakeasy P.S. (See next page)

There are plenty of lively places to spend your evening around the metro, from swanky cocktail lounges serving champagne and charcuterie to hole-inthe-wall dive bars handing out baskets of peanuts and spicy wings with a side of ranch. Here are the best spots to down a beer or dance the night away.

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Movie Theater Screenland Armour Theatre

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Speakeasy P.S. TUCKED AWAY IN the heart of Kansas City, P.S. is a modern speakeasy that pays

tribute to the Prohibition era while offering a contemporary twist. Originally established in the 1920s as a hidden haven for jazz lovers and bootleggers, P.S. has transformed into a chic spot where history and modernity collide.

Hidden behind an unmarked door in a long-forgotten mail sorting room basement, this low-key gem can be a bit of a challenge to find. Inside, visitors discover a cozy, dimly lit space embellished with vintage decor and an extensive selection of craft cocktails. Regular live jazz performances set an ambient and nostalgic mood.

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Kansas City August 2024

this North Kansas City movie theater is still providing viewers with quality movies and a community-oriented atmosphere. Originally a silent movie venue known as the Armour Theatre, the building was designed in the Spanish Revival style by local architects Keene & Simpson.

The space later became the Centre Theatre in 1963, then the Paradise in 1984, providing live entertainment and video rentals. Finally, in 2007, Butch Rigby, the founder of Screenland, purchased the building. By 2018, he’d expanded the theater into the neighboring Power and Light building. It now has 300 seats, additional lobby seating, an outdoor patio and food and drinks.

Beyond its regular screenings, the movie house also holds special events like Friday Night Frights, which feature a classic horror film every Friday; an anime club that shows films in their original language once a month; and backyard movies after sunset. In 2022, the theater also opened Rewind Video and Dive, a video store and dive bar modeled in a ’90s throwback style.

PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN; PROVIDED

NEARLY 100 YEARS since it first opened in 1928,

NIGHTLIFE R E A DER S ’ CHOICE

Best Fountain Crown Center Square Fountain IN THE CITY of Fountains, it can be difficult to name just one fountain the “best,” but this year’s readers

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED; KC CURRENT

have chosen the Crown Center Square Fountain. With nine water jets and 48 water shooters, it can launch water up to 60 feet in the air before recycling it back into the 37,500 gallon reservoir beneath the surface.

Built in 1972, the fountain has been a classic city feature for more than 50 years. It was once commonplace to see kids running through spray on warmer days. A mural in the Ward Parkway Trader Joe’s showcases such a scene, depicting one child filling up a bucket with the fountain’s water as another child darts through.

Unfortunately, the public is no longer permitted to play or stand in the fountain due to unsafe bacteria levels in the water. However, everyone is welcome to come and view the fountain and its daily choreographed water shows, where jets shoot water in conjunction with music recorded by the Kansas City Symphony.

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best New Stadium CPKC THE KANSAS CITY Current’s new stadium, CPKC, is a game changer for the metro. Fronting the Missouri River in Berkley Riverfront

Park, this state-of-the-art 11,500-seat venue is the first stadium in the world that’s solely dedicated to a professional women’s sports team, developers say.

The brand new stadium has sleek modern facilities, premium seating options and lovely views of the water. It has become an important part of the city’s efforts to develop its waterfronts and part of the overall push encouraging Kansas Citians to take advantage of the waterway’s shoreline.

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Voted the BEST DONUT in Kansas City Come toast this honor with a small free coffee and donut with a hole.

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LaMars.com

NIGHTLIFE READERS’ CHOICE Best Wine Shop Cellar Rat Wine Merchants

Best Girls Night Out Bar Fern Bar

Best LGBTQ+ Bar Missie B’s

Best Special-Release Beer Raspberry Rocket Pop, Boulevard Brewing Company

Best Brewery Boulevard Brewing Company

Best Karaoke OffKey

Best IPA Rad AF, City Barrel Brewing Company

Best Casino Hollywood Casino

Best Sports Bar The Peanut

Best Sommelier Christina Corvino

Best Date Bar The Campground

Best Missouri Suburbs Bar Hand in Glove

Best Cocktail Program Drastic Measures

Best Johnson County Bar Drastic Measures

Best KCK/Wyandotte County Bar Chicago’s

Best Locally Owned Kansas Brewery Sandhills Brewing

Best Liquor Store Gomer’s

Best Distillery J. Rieger & Co.

Best Margarita Ponak’s

Best Trivia Night Intelligence Check Trivia at Tin Roof

Best Northland Bar Rewind Video and Dive

Best Hotel Bar Crossroads Hotel

Best Bloody Mary The Farmhouse

Best Downtown KCMO Bar King G

Best Cocktail Mean Mule Distilling Co.

Best Winery Amigoni Urban Winery

Best Locally Owned Missouri Brewery Boulevard Brewing Company

Best New Bar Fern Bar

Best Dance Party The Ship

Best Mixologist Darcy Barnett

Best Pop-Up Bar Miracle Kansas City

Best Plaza/South KC Bar The Peanut

Best Westport/Midtown Bar Kelly’s Westport Inn

Best Limo/Party Bus Company KC Night Train

Best Dive Bar Chicago’s

Best Happy Hour Extra Virgin

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

Best Speakeasy Green Lady Lounge

Best Bar Staff Chicago’s Best Drag Show Hamburger Mary’s Best Bottle Shop Cellar Rat Wine Merchants Best Bar with Live Music Knuckleheads

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY CULTURE AND CITY LIFE Best Puppeteer SIMPLE MISCHIEF STUDIO (See next page)

There’s no shortage of things to do and see in KC, from butterfly sanctuaries and water slides to indie bookstores.

There’s something for everyone on this list of local favorites—and likely something you’ve never heard of before.

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BEST OF KANSAS CITY

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Puppeteer Simple Mischief Studio Studio has the perfect formula for running a business that specializes in puppetry. For owners Spencer Lott and Grace Townley, working in this niche field is rewarding and incredibly fun.

“We get to jump from TV to feature films to live theater and to rock concerts and all kinds of fun stuff,” Lott says.

Lott, who voiced and puppeteered Samuel, the brother of Julia, the first autistic character on Sesame Street, has been doing puppetry since he was a child.

While at KU, he met fellow student Grace Townley. Townley went on to become a social worker, but her talents as an illustrator, painter and sculptor led her to help Lott with many of his professional projects down the road. Their artistic partnership really solidified in 2019, when they worked together on the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, which explores the friendship of beloved children’s TV host Mister Rogers and journalist Lloyd Vogel.

Soon after, the duo formed Simple Mischief Studio and began collaborating with a variety of artists and organizations. They’ve done everything from pre-production work for the movie If to puppet performances with the band Phish.

“Our goal for work is to increase connections between people and also make people laugh,” Townley says.

With multiple projects still in the works, including a planned expansion into picture books and board games, Simple Mischief will be creating smiles for years to come.

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EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best Chess Club Westport Chess Club THE WESTPORT CHESS Club dates back to 1986,

but its members are as active as ever. You’ll find them playing on the north side of the Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill every Tuesday morning from 6:30 to 10 am.

While most of the members are over 21 years old, anyone over six years of age is welcome to join regardless of skill level. The club also provides a teaching lesson every third Tuesday of the month.

While many members choose noncompetitive play, others take part in tournaments the club hosts.

These include an unrated Game/10 chess tournament the second Tuesday of every month, a USCF-rated Game/29 tournament the last Tuesday of every month and a free tournament every Wednesday.

PHOTOGR APHY Z ACH BAUMAN; SHUT TERSTOCK

WITH A MUPPET, a social worker, and a whole lot of love, Simple Mischief

CULTURE AND CITY LIFE EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

Best KC Skyline View Kansas City City Hall THERE ARE LOTS of reasons to head to the observation deck topping Kansas City Hall, not the least

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK; KC CURRENT; PROVIDED

being the incredible city-wide views.

The 1937 structure is an architectural gem worth a visit in its own right, whether you make it to the 30th-floor observation deck or not. The building is a complementary mix of both the Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styles. Designed by Wight and Wight, a popular KC architecture firm at the time, the building replaced an earlier city hall at the same location. It was one of the tallest buildings in KC and Missouri when it was first built. Sitting on a hill, the 443-foot building (525 feet if you count the antenna) remains the fifth-tallest building in KC today and one of the tallest city halls in the country, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

The open-air observation deck wraps around the entire building and provides sweeping views of the city and surrounding suburbs. The deck is open to the public, weather permitting, via a tour guide.

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

EDITOR S ’ CHOICE

WITH THE RECENT opening of CPKC Stadium

EVER SINCE IT began in September 2010, the KC Estilo Car Club has been

on the Berkley Riverfront, a venue dedicated solely to the Kansas City Current, it’s no surprise that fans are excited to cheer on their home team. But few have the enthusiasm of Richard Harper.

This superfan paints his face teal and his beard red to match the colors of the Kansas City women’s soccer team. Harper, a K-12 instrumental and vocal teacher who lives near the stadium, completes the look with glitter in his beard, sunglasses and a large metallic necklace with the KC Current logo.

dedicated to ensuring that the community has a place to display their lowrider vehicles.

“It’s a way to talk to each other about new projects and old projects and just kind of see where we’re at and show off our cars that we’ve worked so hard on,” says Monica Peña, the president of KC Estilo Car Club.

Throughout the summer, the club hosts Fourth Friday Kick Backs, where anyone can come and display their custom lowrider cars, bikes, trucks or motorcycles.

Spectators are welcome to enjoy the vehicles as well as the various pop-up vendors and food trucks at the event.

KC Estilo Car Club also collaborates with Mattie Rhodes, a community development organization, on the first Friday of October to create trunk altars for loved ones who have passed in honor of Día de los Muertos.

Best Superfan Richard Harper

Best Lowrider Car Club KC Estilo Car Club

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CULTURE AND CITY LIFE READERS’ CHOICE Best Local Actor (Live Theater) John Rensenhouse Best Weekend Getaway Spot Lake of Ozarks Best Fundraiser Gala Party Arty, Nelson-Atkins Museum Best Art Gallery Nelson-Atkins Museum Best Comedy Club KC Improv Best Country Music Venue Knuckleheads Best Recording Studio SoundWorks Recording Studio Best Place to See Local Hip-Hop miniBar Best Art Instruction Kansas City Art Institute Best Jazz Act Lonnie’s Reno Club Best Musician Noah Austin Best Arts Festival Plaza Art Fair Best Tribute/Cover Band Almost Kiss Best Local Actress (Live Theater) Cinnamon Schultz Best Music Venue Knuckleheads

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Best Rock Music Club Knuckleheads Best Place to See Local Music Knuckleheads Best Music Festival Boulevardia Best Vocalist Noah Austin Best Cultural Event Kansas City Irish Fest Best Movie Theater B&B Theatres Best Club DJ DJ Chef Nguyen

Best Local Coach Andy Reid Best Law Firm/Lawyer Grover Law Firm, LLC Best Education Nonprofit Operation Breakthrough Best Financial Institution CommunityAmerica Credit Union Best Radio Personality Jenny Mathews Best Local Radio Show Dana & Parks Best Civil & Human Rights Nonprofit KC Tenants Best Fundraising Event Big Slick

Best Arcade Up-Down

Best Johnson County City, Village or Town Overland Park

Best Local Author Jim Cosgrove

Best Personal Injury Attorney Mike DiPasquale

Best Golf Course Swope Memorial Golf Course

Best Family Law Attorney Fisher Law LLC

Best Jam Night Jerry’s Bait Shop

Best Local Landmark Union Station

Best Jazz & Blues Club Green Lady Lounge Best Live Theater Venue Starlight Theatre Best Bookstore Rainy Day Books Best Live Theater Production New Theatre & Restaurant

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

A R T S A N D C U LT U R E

CIT Y LIFE

Best Local Band Soul Servers

Best Philanthropist Patrick Mahomes

Best Swimming Pool Oceans of Fun

Best Car Dealership Aristocrat Motors

Best Insurance Agency State Farm

Best Library Mid-Continent Public Library

Best Country Club Woodside

Best Local TV Sports Anchor Mitch Holthus

Best Private School Plaza Heights Christian Academy

Best Local Politician Mayor Quinton Lucas

Best DUI Attorney Jungle Law

Best Preschool Colonial Presbyterian

Best Local Blog KC Daily

Best Festival Plaza Art Fair

Best Public School Blue Valley Schools

Best Disabilities Nonprofit The Golden Scoop

Best Local TV News Station KSHB 41

Best Restaurant for Kids Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant

Best Auto Repair Shop Christian Brothers Automotive

Best Local Athlete Patrick Mahomes

Best Haunted House Edge of Hell

Best Community Activist KC Tenants

Best Health Nonprofit The University of Kansas Medical Center

Best Center Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead

Best Local TV Commercial Hy-Vee Best Place to Work Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care Best Radio Station Q104 Best Green Business Zen Donkey Farms Best Tour Company Overland Chauffeured Services Best Local TV Anchor Abby Eden, Fox 4 KC Best Place of Worship United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Best KCMO Neighborhood Brookside Best Local Podcast New Heights Best Local Mascot KC Wolf

Best Financial Planning Creative Planning Best Missouri Suburb Lee’s Summit Best Local Meteorologist Bryan Busby Best Neighborhood Brookside

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The Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City Gets Bigger & Brighter

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What would autumn be without the season’s most beloved flavors? From hearty skillets and pumpkin-infused savory items to sweet treats and desserts, you’ll want to eat your way through the park this fall!

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We’re shining a light on those that are making an impact on KC From healthcare to homes and finance to fitness, we are excited to connect you to our city.

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MORE THAN 10,000 PIECES & OF SPORTS MEMORABILIA Named one of the nation's best sports bars -- Sports Illustrated People visit Chappell's to see the sports memorabilia but always come back for the food -- Jim Chappell

Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum

323 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, MO 64116 816.421.0002 - chappellskc.com

88 Kansas City August 2024

EATING AND DRINKING WELL IN KANSAS CITY

Give Me Mo’

BACK-TO-SCHOOL season

may be here, but summer isn’t over yet. Just ask the

By Rachel Layton folks at Mo Pie, a locally owned pie company selling its baked fruit wonders throughout the metro. There’s still time to savor summer each time you bite into one of Mo Pie’s seasonal fruit creations, says founder Curt Lafferty. Lafferty, who was vice president of KC’s beloved Tippin’s Pies for 21 years, is motivated by his passion to “bring back the taste of homemade pie.”

Photography by Sara Alvord

The Lemon Blueberry Crumble is the company’s first-ever chilled cobbler and one of their first crumbles. Using only the highest quality ingredients, they start by smothering layers of baked pie dough with a bright, summer-y blueberry filling. It’s then topped with a fresh, zesty lemon spread and their crumble topper. This cobbler-crumble combo is perfect for beating the heat and keeping picnic season alive.

Find Mo Pies at Fareway Market, the Golden Scoop, select Hy-Vees, Whole Foods and more. For a complete list of distributors, check out Mo Pie’s Instagram, @mo_pie_co or their webpage, mopieco.com. kansascitymag.com August 2024

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REVIEW

RAISING

THE BAR Bar Medici reminds diners why great hospitality is worth paying for

By Tyler Shane Photography by Pilsen Photo Coop

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WITH FINE DINING more expensive than ever, the experience of

being waited on, choosing the perfect wine and relishing food we didn’t have to prepare is indeed a luxury. Restaurants are being challenged on both fronts—diners are pickier with their hard-earned dollars, and the rising cost of, well, everything makes producing a quality meal that wows all the more difficult. That’s why restaurants that still go above and beyond, like Bar Medici, are lighthouses in a fog of dining uncertainty.

As far as fine dining establishments go, Bar Medici may sooner hang its hat on its cocktails rather than its food. That’s what the Crossroads hotspot is, really: an upscale bar that happens to serve crudo, handcrafted pastas and New York strip steaks. It’s the latest endeavor and first dip into the restaurant world for locally owned hospitality group Exit Strategy, which also operates The Monarch Bar, The Mercury Room and Verdigris—without a doubt a few of our city’s swankiest high-end bars. Rather than a head chef, Bar Medici has a culinary director, Mitch Fetterling, who is also in charge of Exit Strategy’s other more low-key bar food programs. And yet, it delivers a caliber of dining that surpasses most. Bar Medici’s atmosphere and drinks are pretty dang outstanding. The food menu has some catching up to do, but it’s almost there.

David Manica, co-owner of Exit Strategy and owner of Manica architecture firm, designed Bar Medici’s dining room alongside Hive Design. Together, they incorporated stunning visuals, like an abstract painting from local artist Jennifer Janesko and a massive map of Florence made with imported gold aluminum plates and mounted on the west wall. An opalesque gray banquette splits the dining room, and the tables are adorned with gold flatware and tealight candles.

A bar encompasses the south wall for those just coming in for a sip.

It’s not a large space—42 seats to be exact—but the intimacy plays well against the dining room’s polished feel.

Don’t be fooled by the website’s description of Bar Medici as a “cafe and cocktail bar.” You’ll also find appetizers, pastas, entrees and desserts on the menu—granted, only a select few, but a selection

92 Kansas City August 2024

nonetheless. The menu is inspired by the Italian cultural ritual of aperitivos (pre-meal drinks meant to whet the palate before dinner, considered the equivalent to the American happy hour). Anything from Bar Medici’s drink menu will fit the scene quite nicely, but the Il Contadino cocktail with mezcal, and the Saronno Sour, a libation complete with whiskey and red wine foam, are great summer draws that showcase Exit Strategy’s ability to make a damn good cocktail.

There’s also a nice selection of spritzes and negronis, but the list labeled “Sovrana” is where the bar program really takes off. Cocktails made with top shelf liquors sell for upwards of $20. The most expensive is $40. I’ll let you be the judge there. Personally, I found the homemade cherry soda to have the perfect fizz-to-sour ratio. A small but intentional wine list is also offered. Poggio Anima’s Pecorino, with its citrusy brightness, is a must in the August heat.

A stellar drink selection was expected from the owners of the Mercury Room and Verdigris, but what I was more interested in at the restaurant was the food—especially when I saw a plate of orzo pasta going for $30. Fetterling, who worked at the late Bluestem and Michelin-rated Saison in San Francisco among other fine dining establishments, created an intentional regional Italian menu focused on the use of fresh ingredients. If you’re looking for spaghetti and meatballs, you’re out of luck. Fetterling has assured me it’s not going to happen.

When it comes to the small plates, Bar Medici nails it. The fluffy mushroom donuts tossed in an umami-rich porcini powder and served with a salty taleggio foam are a beautiful experiment in taste and texture. The same goes for the tuna crudo topped with cucumber slices, condensed watermelon balls, tomato water and mint leaves.

It’s a heavenly blend of crunch and piquancy that erupts with the brightness of summer. Even the tartare and meatballs (sans spaghetti) appetizers manage to stand out. Each has a refreshing take despite being common menu items.

What Fetterling really wants is for Bar Medici to be known for its pastas, and given my experience with the crab bisque pasta, this should be no problem. It’s one of the best seafood pastas I’ve had

PREVIOUS SPREAD: Dishes from left to right: Il Contadino cocktail, mushroom donuts, tuna crudo, homemade cherry soda, crab bisque pasta, Saronno Sour cocktail, sweet corn agnolotti, house-made focaccia.

THIS SPREAD: Bar Medici’s interior, Saronna Sour cocktail, crab bisque pasta, peach gelato.

in KC. The thin flat noodles are tossed with the French cajun-style bisque (made from a holy trinity mirepoix with bell peppers) and topped with just enough crab meat. Perfectly light and aromatic, it’s Italian decadence on a plate. The other house-made pastas, like the sweet corn agnolotti, are just as impressive. They’re not drowning in sauce as is common in the Italian American-style. Instead, they’re ingredient-forward with fresh vegetables and herbs. If the kitchen added just a hint more salt to its boiling water, their pastas could be considered perfection.

As for that $30 orzo pasta, it was not worth its price tag. When it arrived, it was clear that it had been sitting under the heat lamp for too long. But even if the dish had been the creamy version I envisioned, for $30, I’m not sure how the vegetarian option could ever live up to its high price point. The sandwiches—tri-tip on focaccia and an Italian beef—seemed to be Bar Medici’s attempt at upscale bar food, yet the meat on both was dry. When a sandwich falls in the $20 to $25 price range, dry meat doesn’t work. As for desserts, do yourself a favor and order the lemon sorbet. The acidity from the citrus is enough to shock your taste buds into next year. I couldn’t get enough of it.

When I was impressed, I was really impressed. But when a dish wasn’t up to par, even if just undersalted or oversalted, it was disappointing. That’s the thing about fine dining. With high price points, there’s less room for forgiveness. Luckily, what I perceive as Bar

What Fetterling really wants is for Bar Medici to be known for its pastas. Considering my experience with the crab bisque pasta, this should be no problem. It was one of the best seafood pastas I’ve had in KC. Medici’s shortcomings can easily be tweaked in the kitchen. Bar Medici’s menu is well thought out, and I tip my hat to Fetterling for his dedication to fresh ingredients and respectful innovation.

As I visited Bar Medici’s Renaissance-era Florentine-inspired dining room over the course of several weeks, I was reminded how powerful attentive service in its many forms can be. The table service was top-notch. Every server was well-versed and prompt. It was the small details like wiping our table down if there were crumbs, replacing our utensils and plates between each course, even noticing our table’s candle went out—and relighting it promptly. In a time where wallets are strained and consistency is challenged throughout the industry, the art form of hospitality is oftentimes the first to be rendered futile.

But at Bar Medici, it is prioritized above all.

It may seem contradictory, maybe even a little silly, my aforementioned talk of hard economic times and what could be seen as the glorification of fine dining. But think of it like this: if you’re going to spend money, you want it to be worth it. You don’t go to somewhere like Bar Medici for the Italian beef sandwich. You head there for the opportunity to sip on a mauve cocktail with a clear single ice cube and to eat a mushroom pasta so good it makes you want to lick the plate. So skip the Italian beef and bask in the graciousness of Bar Medici’s staff. They recognize hospitality as the exchange it is—an act of trust on your end as the diner and an act of integrity on theirs. kansascitymag.com August 2024

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DRINK

“Instead of rice, they started fermenting soju with tapioca, potato and sugar.”

That’s the Spirit

By Tyler Shane KEEYOUNG KIM KNOWS there’s not a huge demand for soju in the

Midwest. Luckily, as a second-generation Korean, he’s in the business of educating us Midwesterners on Korean culture, most notably through his restaurant Chingu in Westport. Now, alongside Chingu co-founder David Son, Kim is making the first ever Midwest-distilled soju right here in KC. For him, it’s exciting to bring a bit of Korea to KC, even if it takes a while to catch on.

Made in collaboration with Crossroads agave distiller Mean Mule Distilling Co., Chingu’s craft soju is traditionally made with three ingredients: sweet glutinous rice, nuruk (a fermentation starter) and water. If you’ve tried soju before, it was most likely in a green bottle and made from ingredients other than rice.

“If you look at the history of soju, the distillation process that most green bottle sojus often use is a result of the Japanese occupation that led to Korea being a third-world country with rice shortages,” says Kim. “Instead of rice, they started fermenting soju with tapioca, potato and sugar.”

94 Kansas City August 2024

Although soju brands didn’t start using green bottles until the ’90s, almost a century after the Japanese occupation, the packaging quickly became associated with the modern day and less potent version of soju, where rice and nuruk is rarely used. What most people know soju to be—the watered down equivalent to vodka—is created using the diluted distillation methods that began during Japan’s reign.

Kim acknowledges there’s a time and place for the beloved green bottle sojus. Fermenting with starches other than rice makes them fairly cheap and gives them a lower alcohol content, averaging around 17 percent. But the original soju recipe, made with rice, was much different. With his soju, Kim aims to bring the spirit back to its roots.

Chingu soju is earthy, floral and, of course, rice-y. Because it uses the traditional distilling process with rice, Kim believes his soju’s flavor profile most likely resembles the taste before the Japanese occupation.

Kim hopes Chingu soju will add a little bit of Korean culture to classic cocktail recipes, maybe replacing vodka, gin or even tequila.

He recommends trying it for the first time neat or on the rocks. To show how approachable soju can be, Chingu has an entire menu dedicated to the new spirit. Indulge in the Party O’ Clock cocktail, simply made with Chingu soju and Sprite and finished with a strawberry or melon popsicle bar.

Photography by Alyssa Brodus

Welcome

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Food for Thought

Max Kaniger is on a mission to make KC the first city without food deserts

By Tyler Shane GROWING UP IN KC, Max Kaniger saw food as a tool that brought people

together. His father was a talented chef who owned the contemporary restaurant Venue on the Plaza before Café Trio moved in. But when the KC native began to travel overseas in his college years, he became acutely aware that not everyone had the same access to nutritious and affordable food as he did. When Kaniger returned home, he realized this wasn’t just an international problem, so he decided to do something about it. His nonprofit, Kanbe’s Markets, provides food to those who need a helping hand while also confronting another issue within our food system—the waste.

“We have too many people who don’t have access to healthy or real food, and we have too much food that’s going to waste,” Kaniger says.

“So for me, the root cause is a distribution problem.”

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P E R F E C T DAY

Kanbe’s Markets is the first distribution model of its kind in the country. Kaniger and his team take donated or reclaimed produce that would otherwise be thrown away from wholesalers like Liberty Fruit Company and C&C Produce. They “triple inspect” it into a four-tiered system. Whatever is fit to be resold is mixed with other purchased produce and sold in coolers and baskets in for-profit convenience stores. In spots like Anchor Island Coffee on Troost or the Xpress Mart east of Highway 70, you can find a small corner dedicated to Kanbe’s produce. These businesses are located in what is considered a food desert, a USDA term that refers to an urban area without consistent access to fresh, healthy and affordable food anywhere within a half mile (although Kaniger says the discourse is stepping away from the term “food desert” in favor of others like “food swamp” or “low-income, low-access”).

Kaniger started Kanbe’s in 2018, selling its donated produce in four stores. Now, you can find its Healthy Corner Stores (the official name of the program) in more than 60 businesses. According to Kaniger, if he can sell his produce at over 130 locations, KC could be the first city in the nation without food deserts—a massive feat for our city and Kanbe’s sustainable model.

MAX KANIGER’S P E R F E C T D AY I N KC “It’s not that the communities that we serve need a hand out,” Kaniger says.

“They need an equitable opportunity to Breakfast I love Mildred’s. The breakfast provide for themselves. That’s what we’re sandwich there is something working toward.”

I could eat every day. If I have a work meeting, I love Kaniger says working with the communiCafé Corazón. If I’m meeting ties experiencing food insecurities and not a friend to catch up, then against them is proving a successful model sitting on the sidewalk in front of Broadway Cafe is perfect. for his nonprofit. For example, Kaniger sells the produce on consignment so retailers Lunch are able to boost their bottom line, and he A perfect day wouldn’t be complete without chicken assumes all the risks usually associated shawarma and a lemonade with selling fresh food, like spoiling. Plus, from Baba’s Pantry. inserting Kanbe’s Corner Stores into stores Fine Dining that already exist makes it more convenient If I’m going to treat myself, for those who are frequent patrons and live the food and the whole team at The Restaurant at 1900 is within walking distance. one of my favorite spots. But So, how can you help? Become a monthly I also love the Antler Room. donor through Kanbe’s website or attend As for Café Sebastienne, I am so excited about all an Ugly Dinner, the chef’s dinner series in the new changes they are which a local chef uses donated produce making. It was one of my first ever jobs in the restaurant to create a coursed meal. And pat yourself industry. The new menu and on the back if you dined out during KC team there are doing some Restaurant Week: The dining event, put wonderful things. forth by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Nightcap Association and Visit KC, picked Kanbe’s The Peanut on Main will to receive this year’s charitable proceeds, a always be one of my favorite spots in the whole city, but whopping donation of more than $100,000.

I am loving the cocktails at Who says you can’t have fun while making Fern Bar. Their crunch wrap is delicious. a positive impact on the world?

Photography by Ryan Nicholson

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’CUE CARD

’Cue Champ

A record 172 teams competed in the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle

By John Martello YOUR 2024 KANSAS State Barbecue Champions are … from Greater St. Louis.

Mulkey’s BBQ from Imperial, Missouri, competing in the popular Lenexa contest for the first time, took top honors as Grand Champion of the 42nd annual Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, officially designated as the Kansas State Championship BBQ. Head chef Mike Mulkey credited the victory to “a solid cook all around,” with category results including first place in pork, third in brisket and sixth in pork ribs.

Mulkey used a variety of commercial rubs and seasonings and cooked all of his meats over a combination of pecan and cherry wood.

“With 170-plus teams out here, it’s humbling,” Mulkey says. As Grand Champion, he came away with $3,000 in prize money.

One of the largest and most popular contests in the region, the Lenexa cookoff drew a record 172 teams, up from 164 in 2023. Competitors came from as far

98 Kansas City August 2024

as Montana for the contest. Prizes and ribbons were awarded to the top 10 contestants in seven categories (brisket, pork, pork ribs, chicken, sausage, beefsteak and miscellaneous) and the top three overall winners.

The Great Lenexa BBQ Battle started in 1982 with 12 contestants and was officially designated the Kansas State Championship BBQ two years later.

The typical good-natured party atmosphere reigned throughout the two-day contest, held June 21-22, despite some intense summer heat. Cookers’ campsites were well stocked with cold beverages, generators and industrial-sized fans, as well as the usual assortment of flags, banners and other decor items. If you’ve never been, some of the team names will give you a sense of the prevailing vibe: “Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Rub,” “Beefer Madness,” “Hoggy Style BBQ,” “Ribs for Her Pleasure,” “Grill on Grill Action” and “Tender Racks N’ Smokin’ Butts.”

While a St. Louis-area team took top honors at the event, local competitors more than held their own.

Smokey Bey’s Barbecue of Liberty was Reserve Grand Champion, earning $1,750. Local category winners included Dr. Squealgood BBQ of Olathe, first in chicken; Swinedotte Co. BBQ of KCK, first in pork ribs; Roadkill BBQ of Basehor, Kansas, first in brisket; Oink, Moo and Cock-a-doodle-doo of Overland Park, first in beefsteak; and Smokin’ with Budha and Dunn of Olathe, first in sausage.

Scott Ullrich of the Five Guys and a Grill team credits the city for creating the draw.

“Compliments to Lenexa,” Ulrich says. “They do a great job every year putting on the contest. They’re just a great host.”

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK; JOHN MARTELLO

Grand Champion Mulkey’s BBQ from Imperial, Missouri

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LET’S MAKE INSULIN INJECTIONS AND FINGERSTICKS A DISTANT MEMORY KU Medical Center aims to expand its research in Type 1 Diabetes to pioneer new therapies in Kansas City.

Dr. David Robbins, director of the Cray Diabetes Self-Management Center, and David Block, founder of the Emilie Rosebud Diabetes Research Foundation, are leading a community fund-raising effort to help cure Type 1 Diabetes. The University of Kansas Health System is supporting with advanced equipment and space. The first step is to recruit a visionary program leader.

LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP RAISE FUNDS:

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MORE THAN 10,000 PIECES & OF SPORTS MEMORABILIA

Named one of the nation's best sports bars - Sports Illustrated.

People visit Chappell's to see the sports memorabilia but always come back for the food - Jim Chappell.

Chappell's Restaurant and Sports Museum 323 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, MO 64116 816.421.0002 - chappellskc.com

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What’s new in Kansas City food and drink 816.765.4707 BrancatosCatering.com

Harp Barbecue moves to OP

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102 Kansas City August 2024

Raytown’s Harp Barbecue has come to be regarded as one of KC’s best ’cue spots, despite being hidden away in Raytown. But that’s about to change.

Owner Tyler Harp will be moving his beloved restaurant south to Overland Park, near the Scheels Soccer Complex, with a planned September opening (12094 W. 135th St., Overland Park).

Harp says the decision to move was based on logistics and luck. His Raytown lease was coming to an end, and when he stumbled upon the Johnson County site, it was “an opportunity we couldn’t pass on.”

It’s 3,000 square feet (slightly bigger than Harp’s current space) with a patio. Most recently, it was a Pizza Shuttle, but before that, it housed Jon Russell’s BBQ. “There’s already a little barbecue history in that building, which is why we think it’s perfect for us,” Harp says. “We also feel there’s a bit of a barbecue void in that area.”

The Raytown location will close at the end of August. The new space will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Sundays will feature a brunch menu.

For now, Harp says he plans to keep his current menu, but as his team adjusts to the new space, he would like to introduce lighter and healthier options, such as grilled chicken salads, smoked salmon quinoa bowls and sandwiches with smoked meats.

“We’re extremely thankful for Raytown and the people who supported us here,” Harp says. “We’ve been evolving and growing as people and a business. There’s no way we’d be where we are without Raytown.”

PHOTOGR APHY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY; PROVIDED

By Tyler Shane

BITES

KC Current players start a coffee pop-up

Novel opens espresso bar and pastry counter

By Tyler Shane

By Joyce Smith

Several KC Current players joined forces and started Pitchside Coffee trailer.

“We all love coffee,” says Elizabeth Ball, KC Current defender and co-owner of Pitchside Coffee alongside Kristen Hamilton, Vanessa DiBernardo, Mallory Weber, Desiree Scott and Hailie Mace. “That’s the thing we do when we travel for away trips. We’re not going to the bars and the clubs. We got a game to play, so we’re going to get coffee.”

The idea to start a caffeine-based business came about during their many trips to Florida for preseason training. A permanent location seemed too much of a commitment with their busy schedules, but a pop-up trailer seemed doable.

The professional athletes get their beans from the Grandview-based roasterie Notion Coffee. They also source their chai and cold brew from Kinship Cafe. Both Notion and Kinship gave Ball and her team barista training.

Right now, the trailer serves coffee, tea and lemonade but hopes to eventually add pastries

Upscale East Crossroads restaurant Novel is opening an espresso bar and pastry counter called Penrose at the south end of its restaurant.

Penrose’s (1927 McGee St., KCMO) general manager, Kyle Evans, started in the coffee industry 15 years ago, first with Kansas City’s The Roasterie. He’s worked various jobs, from warehouse stocker to head roaster, so running Penrose was a natural fit.

“This is where I want to drink coffee, the place where I want to have that experience,” Evans says. “You can lean on the bar, sit in the garden. You are in the city but slightly removed, so you can still experience the noises and sound to take a moment.”

The menu will include espresso, Americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, wine, chai, French macarons, peach streusel muffins, coffee cake, marble bread, French canelé, blueberry shortbread bars and chocolate pistachio biscotti.

Penrose’s hours will be 7 am to 3 pm Tuesdays through Fridays and 8 am to 2 pm Saturdays. It will be closed Sundays and Mondays.

and even ice cream sandwiches to the menu.

Pitchside Coffee (“pitch” is another name for a soccer field, especially in Europe) plans to pop up around the metro on a weekly basis, including First Fridays in the Crossroads.

Times and locations will vary. The best way to keep updated with the trailer’s schedule is to follow their Instagram, @pitchsidecoffee.

2025 FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGERS WHO WILL BE NAMED? Find out next year in a special section inside the FEBRUARY ISSUE. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR RESEARCH PROCESS, GO TO: fivestarprofessional.com/public/research

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T H E S TO R I E S B E H I N D K A N S A S C I T Y ’ S M O S T E Y E- C ATC H I N G S T R U C T U R E S

surreal estate

“In the Paseo space, Caldwell has been able to grow and host dozens more community events, especially for youth.”

3114 Paseo’s Past Lives

From fabled family mansion to speakeasy and union hall—this Paseo building has seen it all

By Daniela Barzallo FEW BUILDINGS IN Kansas City can claim a history as fascinating as the early 1900s

Benton family home in Hyde Park.

Known today as the Justice and Dignity Center (3114 Paseo, KCMO), the home serves as a bustling community center, hosting events such as Feed the Community, a program that serves meals to more than 5,000 people each week.

Still, little details such as the exterior’s scale-like wood trim, a bow front window from the early 1900s and a back stairwell with exposed brick hint at the building’s past lives.

104 Kansas City August 2024

“The front of it looks like a house, and then the rest of it looks like a giant building,” says current owner Bishop Tony Caldwell, the founder and CEO of the Justice and Dignity Center. “So it’s kind of deceiving.”

Built by C.G. Benton, who ran the Benton Grain Company, it was originally used as the family’s home.

The Bentons sold the 11-room structure in the ’20s and it was converted into a dance hall and union meeting space, complete with a ballroom and a giant auditorium that was more than 100 feet long.

At that time, it was referred to as Carpenters’ Hall.

Throughout the ’20s and ’30s, the building did double duty, serving as not only a union space but also a speakeasy and nightclub. The nightclub ultimately shut down, but the building continued to be used by unions until New Landmark United in Christ Church took over in the 1980s.

About four years ago, Caldwell realized this space would be the perfect home for the Justice and Dignity Center and took ownership.

“We had outgrown our Justice Center on 29th and Indiana,” Caldwell says. “Within one year, we were maxed out. In the Paseo space, Caldwell has been able to grow and host dozens more community events, especially for youth.

“I’m very proud of the city coming together and the youth coming together in the building,” Caldwell says.

Photography by Jeremey Theron Kirby

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